Where We Change

one

"Osteosarcoma."

"Osteosarcoma? What..what is? Is that cancer?" The gloom figure before he limply nodded my fate, "Cancer...cancer...I have cancer."

I immediately switched my gaze over to my mother, she was so beautiful, gentle chestnut waves with hints of sunshine gleaming through falling gently across her shoulder blades. Her hand covers the stammers spilling from her lips, "Opt...options?" I am forced to reconnect with the now solemnly professional in front of me.

"Well there's kemo therapy..."

"It has a history of falling in our family, that's out of the question," her tone is firm as she swishes her arms through the air. "Next please."

He pauses for quite awhile, to collect his thoughts I presume. "Well, the severity has worsened since we waited so long to check her out. It has spread through both of Lily's legs, leaving our only remaining option to be amputation." Well shit. If this guy thinks he's cutting my legs off, he can think again.

"No. Absolutely not. I won't do it."

"Lil...this may be our only option," her eyes weld with tears once more.

"I'm sorry, Mom, but I can't do it. Living without my legs would be the same as dying. You know that all I've ever wanted to do was play soccer, please don't make me do this." The rosy cheeks soften, only allowing a single tear to cascade between the crease of her lips.

"Well if kemo is out of the picture..."

"Death..." For the first time in weeks, my Dad breaks his silence. My heart plummets, falling in the depths of my stomach. I know he's right. This is his speciality, tumors. "Lily, kemo is your best option." Kemo and death are practically the same thing in my family. Both grandparents dead from colon cancer, cousins with fake boobs, and uncles with prosthetic limbs. Not much luck I'm afraid.

I'm scared. More scared than I've ever been. I feel the pulse quicken under my clammy flesh, threatening to shatter my heart into pieces of glass. My father would only speak if needed, and he did. All I can do is trust him? "When can we start treatment?" The air in the room suddenly became light, almost hopeful.